Delhi has six operational Family Courts, each covering a specific set of districts by jurisdiction. Saket serves South and South-East, Karkardooma serves East and Shahdara, Tis Hazari serves Central and parts of North and West, Patiala House serves New Delhi District, Rohini serves North-West, and Dwarka serves South-West. Under Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, your divorce must be filed at the Family Court whose local jurisdiction covers where you last lived together as spouses, where the respondent currently resides, or where the marriage was solemnised. Filing at the wrong court can delay your matter by three to six months.
Delhi Is Not One Court, It Is Six
Most people assume Delhi has one Family Court. It doesn’t. Delhi has six operational Family Courts spread across the city, each carved out by geography and district assignment. File at the wrong one and your petition can bounce back to the counter after weeks, or your matter may be transferred out on jurisdictional grounds after a first hearing.
This 2026 guide walks through which Delhi Family Court hears your divorce, custody or maintenance matter based on where you live, where your spouse lives, and where you were married. Written by the team of Advocate Preeti JD, Associates and Solicitors, practising across all six Delhi Family Courts and the wider NCR belt.
Why Delhi Has Six Family Courts
Delhi is one of the largest metropolitan areas in India, spread across 11 revenue districts and 15+ police districts. The Family Courts Act, 1984 requires enough Family Courts to serve the population. To manage volume and access, the Delhi Government along with the Delhi High Court has notified separate Family Courts inside six district court complexes: Saket, Karkardooma, Tis Hazari, Patiala House, Rohini and Dwarka. Each operates under a Principal Judge and one or more Additional Principal Judges, with its own mediation centre inside the same complex.
Section 19 HMA: The Rule That Decides Your Family Court
For Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist couples, Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 determines which Family Court has jurisdiction. A divorce petition can be filed at the District Court within whose local limits:
- The marriage was solemnised
- The respondent (opposing spouse) currently resides
- The parties last resided together as husband and wife
- The petitioner resides, if the respondent is outside India or has not been heard from as being alive for seven years or more
For inter-religious couples under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, Section 31 applies with essentially the same territorial rules. Muslim, Christian and Parsi couples file under their respective personal law statutes, but the geographic principle stays the same.
The Family Court within whose local jurisdiction the qualifying event happened is the correct court. Read how to file for divorce in India for the pan-India filing baseline.
Saket Family Court: South and South-East Delhi
Location: District Court Complex, Sector 6, Pushp Vihar, Saket, New Delhi 110017
Districts covered:
- South District: Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj, RK Puram, Saket, Malviya Nagar, Hauz Khas, Green Park, Safdarjung Enclave, Munirka, Chirag Delhi
- South-East District: Greater Kailash, Nehru Place, Kalkaji, Chittaranjan Park, New Friends Colony, Okhla, Sarita Vihar, Jasola, Madanpur Khadar
If your marriage was solemnised or your last shared matrimonial home was anywhere in these localities, Saket Family Court is your court. For South Delhi and South-East Delhi matters, our team practises as the best divorce lawyer in Saket with regular filings at this bench.
Karkardooma Family Court: East and Shahdara Delhi
Location: Karkardooma Court Complex, Vikas Marg, Karkardooma, Delhi 110032
Districts covered:
- East District: Preet Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Anand Vihar, Krishna Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar Phase I, II and III, Patparganj, Trilokpuri
- Shahdara District: Shahdara, Yamuna Vihar, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Nand Nagri, Gokulpuri, Bhajanpura
Karkardooma is one of the busiest Family Courts in Delhi due to its dense East Delhi coverage. If your matrimonial home was in Mayur Vihar or Laxmi Nagar, this is your bench. East Delhi and Shahdara residents can engage us as the best divorce lawyer in Karkardooma for regular filings here.
Tis Hazari Family Court: Central and Parts of North Delhi
Location: Tis Hazari Courts Complex, Tis Hazari, Delhi 110054
Districts covered:
- Central District: Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Rajender Nagar, Patel Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Paharganj
- North District: Timarpur, Civil Lines, parts of Model Town
Tis Hazari is the oldest court complex in Delhi and still the primary Family Court for the Central belt. Central Delhi matters are handled by our team as the best divorce lawyer in Tis Hazari, navigating this court’s specific procedural rhythm.
Patiala House Family Court: New Delhi District
Location: Patiala House Court Complex, India Gate, New Delhi 110001
Districts covered:
- New Delhi District: Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri, Rashtrapati Bhawan area, Barakhamba Road, Janpath, Diplomatic Enclave, Bharti Nagar
Patiala House Family Court serves a relatively compact geography that includes central government housing, embassy areas, and the Connaught Place business district. Volume is lower here than in Saket or Karkardooma, but the bench is highly experienced. New Delhi District residents can engage us as the best divorce lawyer in Patiala House for filings inside this jurisdiction.
Rohini Family Court: North-West Delhi
Location: Rohini Court Complex, Sector 14, Rohini, Delhi 110085
Districts covered:
- North-West District: Rohini (Sectors 1 to 24), Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, Wazirpur, Netaji Subhash Place, Shalimar Bagh, parts of Model Town, Adarsh Nagar, Jahangirpuri
If you live in Rohini or Pitampura, this is your default Family Court. North-West Delhi matters are handled by our team as the best divorce lawyer in Rohini with regular bench appearances and roster planning.
Dwarka Family Court: South-West Delhi
Location: Dwarka Court Complex, Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075
Districts covered:
- South-West District: Dwarka (all sectors), Palam, Uttam Nagar, Najafgarh, Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Sagarpur, Bindapur, Bharat Vihar
Dwarka Family Court has grown rapidly as the South-West Delhi population has expanded. South-West Delhi couples engage us as the best divorce lawyer in Dwarka for filings at the Dwarka Family Court and its mediation centre.
Reference Table: Delhi Family Courts by Jurisdiction
| Family Court | Complex Location | Districts Covered | Key Localities |
| Saket | Pushp Vihar, Saket | South, South-East | Saket, Vasant Kunj, GK, Nehru Place, Okhla |
| Karkardooma | Vikas Marg | East, Shahdara | Preet Vihar, Mayur Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Shahdara |
| Tis Hazari | Tis Hazari | Central, parts of North | Karol Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Patel Nagar, Civil Lines |
| Patiala House | India Gate | New Delhi | Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri, Barakhamba |
| Rohini | Rohini Sector 14 | North-West | Rohini, Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, Shalimar Bagh |
| Dwarka | Dwarka Sector 10 | South-West | Dwarka, Palam, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Najafgarh |
How to Determine Your Correct Delhi Family Court in Three Steps
- Identify the last matrimonial home address: This is the strongest jurisdictional anchor under Section 19 HMA and the one most Delhi Family Courts prioritise.
- Match the PIN code or locality to a police district: The Delhi Police district map is publicly available, and each locality maps clearly to one district.
- Cross-check with the notified Family Court for that district: The list above reflects the current notified structure.
In mutual consent divorce, jurisdiction can be established at the Family Court where either spouse currently resides, giving couples flexibility between the six benches.
What Happens If You File at the Wrong Delhi Family Court?
- The court can return the petition at the filing stage if jurisdiction is obviously wrong, adding three to six weeks
- The court may admit the petition and hear it briefly, only for the respondent to raise a jurisdictional objection later
- If the objection is upheld, the court will transfer the petition under Section 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure to the correct Family Court, adding three to six months
- In some contested cases, the Delhi High Court may need to hear a transfer petition to move the matter
This is why the first filing must go to the right court. Read how to proceed for mutual divorce for the joint-petition drafting standards that pre-empt these disputes.
What About Delhi NCR: Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad?
Delhi NCR is a geographic term, not a jurisdictional one. Each satellite city has its own Family Court structure under its own state:
- Gurgaon (Haryana): District and Session Court, Sector 10A, Gurugram.
- Noida (Uttar Pradesh): District Court, Surajpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar
- Faridabad (Haryana): District Court, Sector 12, Faridabad
- Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh): District Court, Ambedkar Road
A couple that last resided in Noida cannot file in Delhi even if both work in Delhi. Jurisdiction is territorial, not commutative. For NCR-wide coverage, we practise as the best family lawyers in Delhi-NCR across state lines.
Common Mistakes People Make Choosing a Delhi Family Court
- Filing at Tis Hazari for a matter clearly falling in Saket, out of habit or perceived convenience
- Assuming Patiala House can be used because “it is central” (it serves only New Delhi District)
- Filing at a Delhi Family Court when the last matrimonial home was in Noida or Gurgaon
- Not verifying which PIN code falls under which district before filing
- Missing that Rohini serves North-West and not all of North Delhi
Why Advocate Preeti JD
Advocate Preeti JD leads a 20+member team focused exclusively on family and matrimonial law, practising across all six Delhi Family Courts and NCR benches. With 17+ years at the Supreme Court Bar Association, Punjab and Haryana HC Bar and Gurugram Bar, her practice covers child custody, maintenance and alimony, dowry harassment defence, and domestic violence matters. For city-wide coverage, our team is also engaged as the best divorce lawyer in Delhi and the best family lawyer in Delhi.
Kya Aap Confused Hain Ki Kaunsi Delhi Family Court Aap Ki Hai?
Bahut se log convenient court mein file kar dete hain, ya Patiala House “sabhi ke liye” samajh lete hain. Aisa nahi hai. Delhi mein cheh alag Family Courts hain, aur har case ki jurisdiction spouse ke last shared address se decide hoti hai. Galat court aap ka case teen se cheh mahine peeche daal sakta hai. Advocate Preeti JD ki team saari cheh Delhi Family Courts mein practice karti hain. Contact ya book appointment se free consultation lein.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Family Courts are there in Delhi in 2026?
Delhi has six operational Family Courts: Saket, Karkardooma, Tis Hazari, Patiala House, Rohini and Dwarka. Each covers a specific set of Delhi districts, and jurisdiction is decided under Section 19 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 for Hindu couples.
Which Delhi Family Court covers South Delhi localities?
The Saket Family Court at Pushp Vihar covers South and South-East Delhi, including Saket, Vasant Kunj, Malviya Nagar, Hauz Khas, Greater Kailash, Nehru Place, Kalkaji, Chittaranjan Park, New Friends Colony and the Okhla belt.
If I live in Mayur Vihar, which Family Court hears my divorce?
Mayur Vihar falls under the East District, which is served by the Karkardooma Family Court on Vikas Marg. All divorce, custody, maintenance, and PWDVA matters from Mayur Vihar Phases I, II and III are filed at Karkardooma.
Can I file for divorce at Patiala House if I live in South Delhi?
No. Patiala House Family Court serves the New Delhi District only, covering areas like Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri and Barakhamba Road. South Delhi matters go to Saket, not Patiala House, regardless of personal convenience.
Which Family Court covers Dwarka, Palam and Janakpuri?
The Dwarka Family Court at Sector 10, Dwarka covers South-West Delhi, including all Dwarka sectors, Palam, Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Uttam Nagar, Najafgarh, Sagarpur and Bindapur. It is the growth centre of West Delhi.
Can Delhi Family Courts hear a case if my spouse lives in Gurgaon or Noida?
Only if the last shared matrimonial home was in Delhi, or if the marriage was solemnised in Delhi. Otherwise, the matter must be filed in the Family Court of that state, since Delhi NCR is geographic and not jurisdictional.
What happens if I file at the wrong Delhi Family Court?
The court may return the petition at the filing counter, or admit it and later transfer it under Section 24 CPC once the objection is raised. Either outcome adds three to six months and legal costs to your case.
Are the six Delhi Family Courts identical in procedure?
Yes on statute, no on practice. All six follow the Family Courts Act, 1984 and CPC, but roster speed, mediation centre style and clerical practice vary. Local counsel familiarity materially affects timeline outcomes across the six courts.
Can mutual consent divorce be filed at either spouse’s local Family Court?
Yes. In a mutual consent divorce under Section 13B HMA 1955, jurisdiction can be established where either spouse currently resides. This gives couples flexibility to pick the more convenient Delhi Family Court from the six benches.
Do all six Delhi Family Courts hear PWDVA and 498A cases?
No. Family Courts hear divorce, maintenance, custody and guardianship. PWDVA 2005 goes to the Metropolitan Magistrate on the DV roster in each district. BNS Section 85 and 86 (formerly 498A IPC) go to the criminal court within the same complex.
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